Survive To 5

There has to be a great story behind your business. There has to be a story about how your passion was so great that your business is the manifestation of your passion.

What is your story? What is the story behind your business?

Why are you selling cosmetics? I don’t want to hear that “It’s a hot industry” or “It seems easy” or “it gives the best ROI.” No, there is no passion in that statement.

What I want to hear the story of when you were 17 you you did a makeover for a shy friend and how it totally changed her life. How she began to believe in herself and pursue her dreams and enjoy life. This then this inspried you to want to help women change their lives, improve their self esteem by giving simple makeovers.

The passion is helping others, changing lives and it is manifested by selling cosmetics.

Now that’s a Great Story……

What’s your story? If it isn’t Great maybe you need to make a change.

So, I was in Las Vegas a few weeks ago. We were driving around in the communities off the strip. As we were driving I noticed two guys washing and detailing cars on the corner. They had their detailing truck parked and a few cars besides it. There was 3 cars lined up and they were washing down one. Then I noticed the building behind them was abandoned and boarded up. I then noticed the sign they placed on the sidewalk saying “Ortega Car Wash”. These guys were straight hustling.

They set up shop in an abandoned building’s parking lot. They put their billboard sign up and started taking clients.

I doubt this was legal, No city allows a business to just set up shop and begin doing business, there are licenses and permits to be issued amongst other things.

I thought to myself, If you want it bad enough go and take it. Try.

I think Disney needs to work on their brand. Right now, When I hear Disneyland and see the prices they charge for admission to their theme parks, I think one thing, Money. I wonder how in the current state of the economy they could raise their prices? They’re all about money.

So, I’ve been thinking I have a great branding idea for Disney to employ.

Imagine this, It’s 5 pm, It’s a hot day, Mom & Dad have taken their three children (ages 2, 5 & 7) to Disneyland for the day, They’ve been at the park for seven hours so far. Been changing diapers, pushing strollers dealing with the crowds.

The kids are beginning to get the best of the parents, And the parents are tired and are beginning to wonder why they even came. The enthusiasm they had when they started on their endeavor has depleted to a minimum.

Now imagine this happening next, A Disney employee walks up to the parents and says you look like you could use a break, Hands the parents meal tickets and says compliments of Disneyland, Dinner is on us.

Wow!! Wouldn’t that be great? They could use that cliché, “Disney cares”.

If that happened to me or if I knew that was going on, I would have a totally different feeling about Disney. I wouldn’t think they’re all about money.

Could this happen? It could. Will it happen? That’s the question.

Message to Disneyland Resorts, Work on your brand. You really need to.

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These are exciting times, The internet has made so much possible. It has connected the world. It has created the Global Job Market, A global pool of skills.

Just as someone from the other side of the world can market their skills to the world and receive outsource projects.
You can also do the same. You can offer your skills to the world and take projects that are from other countries like France, Australia or the USA.

Looking for extra money? Looking for a true ROWE? (Results Only Work Environment) You can go to www.elance.com right now, set up an account and begin bidding on projects from around the world.

Here’s how it works, After setting up your account you then can search projects that are posted from all over the world. If you are interested you will enter a bid, the amount you would charge to complete the project. If your bid is accepted you will be given the exact details and begin work. After completed, You get paid and can bid on another project.

Keep in mind though the future is here with the global market, So the pay for anything that can be outsourced will be determined by the global market. Don’t think you can offer your skills for the pay you may be currently paid by your employer, No, this will not be the case.

This will also open up your eyes to what is coming. This will allow you to see for yourself that maybe what you’re being paid by your employer can be significantly offered by someone else for much less. You will be shocked by the amount others are willing to perform these projects.

I believe the global market will determine the pay scale for all computer related jobs. In the future, programmers for example will be compensated the same all over the world. Right now, the pay scale for programmers has a huge range from the minimum to the maximum hourly rates one can charge. Eventually this will level out.

As, I’ve said before, the recession has forced everyone to consider outsourcing, And despite the state of the economy, Companies will begin outsourcing and announce layoffs.

So, as the saying goes, if you can’t beat them, Join them. Jump into the Global Market, Establish yourself and begin taking projects. The future is here.

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I’m sorry to say this, But, I think more layoffs are to come. Why you ask?

I think the recession has forced employers to explore the option of outsourcing.

Before, some companies were afraid of public outcry if they outsourced American jobs to another country. Some just didn’t believe in it.

Well, the recession has forced everyone to reconsider. After exploring it, They now see the benefits. It will now be more acceptable amongst companies because everyone will be doing it. Get use to it, We are apart of the global marketplace.

My employer has begun. We had management layoffs in early summer and were told we were done with layoffs.

Last week, they announced that an entire department will be laid off and the department will be outsourced to another country beginning in 2010.

I believe there will be more departments to follow and I believe more employers will also follow this trend.

Keep in mind, The decision will be made despite the state of the economy; This move will be made as simply the new business model companies will now follow. It won’t matter if the economy begins to turn. This is the way things will be now.

Employers will outsource any department that can be.

So, unfortunately I think there are more tough times ahead. This is more reason to act today and put your plan in action.

I would like everyone to weigh in on this. What do you think?

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There is no such thing as job security working for a company, Does everyone agree?

With the internet, We can go back to the cottage industry era. Everyone working from home. But, our pool of potential customers is not the town we live in. Now it’s the world. We have no geographical restrictions. With the internet we can create a niche business and find customers that are into that niche from all over the world. So, it is now possible to take even the smallest of niches and succeed. This is very exciting!!! The internet has made all this possible.

One should look at this as another reason to Act now!! and start their own business. The internet is only 15 years old. It has come a long way. The ability to reach the world was never as easy as it is now. We have a much greater advantage over the new businesses of the past.

We’ve been given a head start, What more do you want? We have the world as our potential market, Surely, we can start a business that aligns with our calling and passion and reach others.

Why not try?

Was wondering….
Is accepting a paycheck for time a form of laziness?
Does it mean that I just don’t want to pick up the fishing pole and go out and catch some fish for supper….(translation – Go out a find customers for my product, service)

Need to change our thinking….Need to get that hunter mentality.

Really, all we have to do is, DO IT!! Plan and Go.

Everyday take a step forward whether it’s reading material or contacting a vendor.
If you can spend some time each day devoted to your start-up, After 30 days you’ll look back and see you’ve come a long way.

Some steps I’ve taken:
1. Create Busniess plan
2. Brainstorm domain name
3. Explore domain name service options
4. Explore web hosting options
5. Learn about web hosting products
6. Sign up with a web hosting service
7. Plan Marketing Strategies
8. Design layout of web pages

Each of these items was done over a period of time, I did a little each day since May 2009, I’ve come a long way.

Just do something, anything….. right now! that is related to you starting your own business and that will be your first step. And keep going from there.

Support from others definitely helps. I need it and I’m here for anyone who wants some encouragement also. We can DO IT!!

I think one of our biggest concerns about starting a business is, Will it be able to generate enough income to pay our existing bills?

Well, Have we ever thought of cutting back? Cutting back on expenses would immediately give our business some room to breath. If we cut back on expenditures our business will now only have to generate say $2000 a month for living expenses as opposed to the $3500 we had been spending. Thats an immediate $1500 break for your business and it begins to seem more obtainable.

How can we reduce our expenses? One of the biggest areas we can trim is eating out. I know we could all do some reduction in this area.

Another one is getting rid of cable. Instead of TV time, You could have family time or building your knowledge by reading a book.

The big one, Would be to relocate, Lower that mortgage or rent.

Starting a business is in itself a lifestyle change. But, we need to apply changes to other areas of our life also.